By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi

Less than 24 hours to Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, the political atmosphere in the state has become increasingly charged, with the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, trading accusations over alleged political violence, mobilisation of thugs, intimidation and the deployment of security personnel.

The latest development has heightened concerns over the ability of political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully as voters across the 30 local government areas prepare to elect the governor who will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.

The APC Campaign Media Committee on Friday alleged that political thugs had been moved into the Osun State Government House in Osogbo from Lagos and were allegedly being accommodated by Governor Adeleke and members of his political team ahead of the election.

The allegation was made by a member of the committee, Kehinde Ayantunji, while addressing journalists at the Correspondents’ Chapel in Osogbo.

Ayantunji claimed that the party had received intelligence indicating that a large number of suspected political thugs had been moved into the Government House within hours of the election and were allegedly being coordinated by two individuals identified by the codenames “Olowe” and “Iberu”.

He alleged that the suspected thugs had been seen moving in and out of the Government House and that many of them were not indigenes or residents of Osun State.

The APC spokesman further claimed that the party had documented vehicles allegedly used to convey the men into the Government House, listing a dark ash Lexus Jeep with registration number KRD207IS, a Toyota Corolla with registration number AKD 795 GR, a red Volkswagen Golf with registration number AGL719 and another dark ash Lexus Jeep with registration number KRD 210 KS.

“We are not just raising this alarm; we have double-checked our intelligence, and we have pictorial evidence of what we are saying here this afternoon,” Ayantunji said.

He alleged that the suspected thugs were being mobilised to cause disturbances in parts of Osogbo and Egbedore Local Government Areas, particularly Ward 5 in Osogbo and Wards 4 and 8, Okini, Ido-Osun and Ofatedo in Egbedore.

According to him, the men had allegedly been mobilised with funds and ammunition to destabilise the election and intimidate voters.

The APC therefore called on security agencies to investigate the allegation immediately and prevent any breakdown of law and order before, during and after the election.

Ayantunji also questioned why security operatives had allegedly failed to intervene despite the purported presence of the suspected thugs within the Government House.

The APC further appealed to national and international election observers, security agencies and other stakeholders to closely monitor developments across the state and ensure that voters were allowed to cast their ballots without intimidation or violence.

The party said Adeleke and the Accord Party should be held responsible for any violence or attack on APC members or voters if the alleged mobilisation resulted in an electoral crisis.

“Therefore, we are telling the international community, the security agents in Nigeria, and all stakeholders that have anything to do with the Osun election, that if anything happens to our members tomorrow, or any electorate, Governor Ademola Adeleke should be held responsible for shielding political thugs in the Government House,” Ayantunji alleged.

Governor Adeleke’s position on the political development in the state became more pronounced on Friday when he announced plans to establish an Independent Commission of Inquiry into reported political killings and other acts of violence associated with the election period.

The governor, while condoling with families of victims, described every victim as “an Osun life” and said political differences should never lead to the loss of human lives.

He said the commission would be inaugurated on Monday, immediately after Saturday’s election, with a mandate to investigate reported incidents of election-related violence, establish the circumstances surrounding the killings and recommend appropriate measures to ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice, regardless of political affiliation, position or influence.

Adeleke also disclosed plans by the state government to establish a framework to support and compensate families of victims and ensure that the deceased were appropriately honoured.

“The election will come and go, but we will remain one people. We owe the dead justice, their families compassion, and the people of Osun a peaceful future,” he said.

The governor appealed to residents and political actors to maintain peace before, during and after the election, stressing that the unity of Osun should not be sacrificed because of political competition.

The governor’s accusation of violence against the opposition has, however, been reinforced by his administration’s earlier public claims that elements within the APC were behind several incidents in the state.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, has also accused opposition elements and other actors of creating an atmosphere of fear in parts of the state ahead of the poll.

Egbedun, who represents Odo Otin State Constituency and has served as Speaker of the Eighth Osun State House of Assembly since 2023, is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At a separate press conference on Friday, the Speaker called on the international community to closely monitor the political and security situation in Osun, alleging intimidation, voter suppression, attacks and politically motivated harassment in Odo Otin Local Government Area.

Egbedun alleged that armed military personnel deployed to Odo Otin had targeted leaders and members of the Accord political platform.

He described the alleged development as disturbing and demanded an immediate investigation.

According to the Speaker, information available to him indicated that the residence of Alhaja Popoola Kuburat Ijadunola, popularly known as “Mama Mi Leko” and elder sister of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was allegedly invaded, while two of her children were taken away.

He further alleged that political figures including Ayanyemi Joshua Olawale, popularly known as Lawesco; Fasola Femi, also known as Odofin; and Ajimoti Rasheed Omotayo, popularly known as Action, were attacked.

Egbedun claimed that gunshots were fired during the incident and that Ajimoti’s dog was killed.

The Speaker also raised questions over the alleged release of three armed suspects who, according to him, confessed to working for APC House of Representatives candidate Francis Eniade in connection with an earlier incident in Okuku.

He claimed that the suspects were arrested with two pump-action rifles and handed over to the Department of State Services for investigation but were subsequently released.

Egbedun further alleged that attempts had been made to intimidate him from releasing a video containing what he described as the suspects’ confessional statements.

“I cannot be intimidated for demanding that the truth be established. If anyone has committed an offence, let that person face the law,” he said.

The Speaker called on the Federal Government, DSS, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and other security agencies to investigate the allegations and make their findings public.

He also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, election observers, diplomatic missions and international human rights organisations to closely monitor developments in Osun and independently document alleged violations.

“Our appeal is not for the international community to take sides with any political party. Our appeal is for the international community to stand on the side of truth, human rights, constitutional democracy and the rule of law,” Egbedun said.

He urged security agencies to remain professional, impartial and committed to protecting all citizens throughout the electoral process.

The escalating war of words comes against the background of an already tense electoral environment in Osun, where accusations of political violence have been flying between the major camps for several months.